Razor-blade sharpener



April 1930- J. R. GIBSON RAZOR BLADE SHARPENER Filed May 2'7, 1926 Patented Apr. 8, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOSEPH R. GIBSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS ItAZOIlEt-IBLADE SHARPENER Application filed May 27, 1926. Serial No. 112,087.

One of the important objects of the invention is the provision of means whereby a hand operated razor blade sharpener of a well known type can be removably associated with and driven by a power operated drive mechanism, whereby the razor blades can either be sharpened manually or by power.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for permitting the connection of the drive shaft of the power operated mecha- 5 nism with the barrel of one of the stropping rolls of the sharpener, so that the conventional sharpener can be conveniently and expeditiously connected with the drive mechanism, said connection including an expanding mandrel for frictionally gripping the barrel of the sharpener and which'mandrel can be permanently left in position in the barrel and having means for operatively enga ing the drive shaft.

i further object of the invention is to provide a portable power driven razor blade sharpener embodying an electric motor mounted upon a suitable base having a tray connected directly with the casing thereof for removabl receiving a conventional sharpener, wit a pendant drive mechanism including a friction wheel for engaging the armature of the motor, the arrangement of the friction wheel relative to the armature shaft tending to hold the wheel in engagement with the armature shaft when the same is in operation.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel, construction, arrangement and formation of parts, as will be hereinafter more specifically described, claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which drawings,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved device showing the conventional hand operated razor blade sharpener in position thereon.

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the same,

Figure 3 is a detail section taken on line 33 of Figure 2 illustrating the novel conblade sharpener o nection between one of the sharpening rolls of the blade sharpener and the drive shaft of the device,

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the improved device with the conventional razor blade sharpener removed therefrom,

Figure 5 is a detail perspective view illustrating the formation of the expanding man-' drel and the means for connecting the mandrel detachably with the drive shaft of the device, and

Figure 6 is a detail transverse section through the expanding mandrel.

Referring to the drawings in detail wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the letter A generally indicates a razor a well known type now on the market and B the power operating mechanism therefor. 7

As stated, the razor blade sharpeneris of a conventional type and the same includes a casing 10 having a pair of sharpening rolls 11 rotatably mounted therein. Mounted between the rolls 11 is the usual blade holder 12 and the rolls 11 and the blade holder 12 are operatively connected together in the usual way so as to permit the operation of the sharpener when rotation is imparted to one of the rolls.

As shown, one of the rolls 11 is provided with an axial barrel which alines with suitable openings 14 formed in the casin 10. The improved power operating device for the sharpener A comprises a base plate 15 35 which can be of any desired form and as shown, the base plate is provided with suitable pads orfeet 16 whereby the device can be placed upon a support without marring the surface thereof. An electric motor 17 of the desired type and size is secured directly to the upper face of the base plate 15 and the motor has connected directly to the casing thereof in any desired way, a tray or support 18 for removably receiving the sharpener A. The motor 17 includes the usual armature shaft 19 and in the present instance the shaft is provided with a friction pulley or drive wheel 20.

The tray or support 18 is preferably formed of sheet metal and embodies a bottom wall 21, side walls 22 and a rear wall 23. This tray or support closely conforms to the exterior configuration of the sharpener A so as to snugly grip the same when the sharpener is slipped into the tray through the open end thereof. The side walls of the tray resiliently engage the sharpener and hold it securely in place.

The end wall 23 of the tray or support 18 rotatably carries a drive shaft 24 having a socket 25 on the inner end thereof. This drive shaft 24 is adapted to be connected to the armature shaft 19 in any preferred way and in the present instance I have shown a train of reduction gearing 26 for this purpose. The train of gearing 26 includes a stub shaft 27 rotatably carried by the end wall 23 of the tray 18 and this stub shaft has keyed or otherwise secured thereto a relatively small spur gear 28 which meshes with a relatively large gear 29 keyed or otherwise secured to the drive shaft 24. The shaft 27 has also connected therewith a relatively large gear 30 which meshes with a relatively small gear 31 keyed or otherwise secured to, a driven shaft 32. This driven shaft 32' is rotatably carried by a frame 33 which is rockably supported by the shaft 27 and this frame normally tends to swing downwardly toward the armature shaft .19. A relatively large frict-ion wheel 34 is secured to the shaft 32 and is adapted to frictionally contact with the drive wheel or pulley 20 secured to the arma ture shaft 19.

Referring to Figure 2, the armature shaft 19 rotates in a counter-clockwise direction which normally tends to hold the friction wheel 34 in engagement with the friction wheel 20 when the motor is in operation. If preferred a contractile coil spring 35 can be provided for normally holding the frame 33 in the lowered position and the friction wheel 34 in proper contact with the wheel 20.

One of the salient features of the invention is the novel means employed for permitting the convenient and expeditious connection of one of the sharpening rolls 11 of the blade sharpener A with the drive shaft 24 and this means embodies an expansion mandrel 36 which is adapted to be connected with the barrel 13 of the roll 11. If preferred this expanding mandrel 36 can be normally left in position in the barrel whenthe sharpener A is being used manually. This mandrel 36 comprises a shaft 37 having one end thereof provided with a polygonal extension 38 for. detachably fittin within the socket 25. The opposite end of t e shaft 37 is provided with screw-threads 39 for receiving a traveling nut 40 which can be of a frusto-conical form. This nut is adapted to ride into the expanding sleeve'41 which is provided with longitudinal slits 42 for providing resilient leaves 43 for gripping the barrel. The'outer end of the threaded portion of the shaft can be provided with a slotted head 44 whereby the shaft can be rotated by a screw driver to permit the fitting of the nut 40 within the sleeve 41 for expanding the leaves 43 thereof.

A key 45 is secured to the drive shaft 24 so that the rolls can be partially rotated whereby the blade holder 12 can be placed in the desired position to' permit a blade to be placed thereon or removed therefrom.

In the use of the improved device the expanded mandrel 36 isslid into the barrel. 13 after which the shaft 36 is rotated for bringing about the expansion of the sleeve 41 whereby the barrel 13 will rotate with the shaft 36. The sharpener A is now slid into the tray or support 18 so that the polygonal end 38 of the shaft 36 will ride into the socket 25. After the blade to be sharpened is positioned in the holder 12 it is merel necessary to close the circuit to the motor 1 and the sharpener will be automatically set in operation.

Owing to the arrangement of the tray or support 18 and the expanding mandrel 36 the conventional sharpener A can be associated with the device'B without any difiiculty on the part of the operator and the blades can be sharpened in a convenient and expeditious manner.

Changes in details may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of this invention but what I claim is:

1. The combination with a razor blade sharpener including a barrel from which the sharpening motions are derived, of a power operating device including a motor having an armature shaft, a support upon the casing of the motor for removably receiving the sharpener, a drive shaft operatively connected with the motor rotatably carried by the support, an expandin mandrel removably fitted in the barrel, an a detachable con- (ri ecizion between the drive shaft and man- 2. The combination with a razor blade sharpener including a barrel from which the sharpening motions are derived, of a power operating device including a motor having an armature shaft, a support upon the easing of the motor for removably receiving the sharpener, a drive shaft operatively connected with the armature shaft and rotatably carried by the support, an expanding mandrel removably fitted within the barrel for frictionally engaging the same, the mandrel terminating short of the opposite sides of the sharpener, and means detachably connecting the drive shaft with the mandrel when the sharpener is placed within the support.

3. The combination with a razor blade sharpener including a barrel from which the sharpening motions are derived, of a power operating device including a motor having an armature shaft, a support upon the casing of the motor for slidably receiving and frictionally gripping the sharpener, a drlve shaft rotatably carried by the support, means operatively connecting the drive shaft with the armature shaft, an expanding mandrel fitted Within the barrel of the sharpening roll, means for adjusting the mandrel from one end of the barrel, the opposite end of the barrel havin a polygonal extension, and a m socket carrie by the drive shaft for detach-' ably receiving said, polygonal extension of the mandrel when the lads sharpener is fitted within the support.

4. The combination with a razor blade sharpener including a barrel from which the sharpening motions are derived, of a power operating device including a motor having an armature shaft provided with a friction wheel, a su port carried by the casing of the -motor, a rive shaft rotatably carried by said support, a stub shaft rotatably carried by said support, a frame rockably mounted upon the stub shaft, a friction wheel rotatably carried by the frame enga ing said friction wheel on the armature sha t, a train of gearing operatively connecting the drive shaft with the second mentioned friction wheel, an expanding mandrel removably fitted in the barrel, and a slip socket connection between the drive shaft and mandrel.

5. The combination with a power operating device including an electric motor and a razor blade sharpen'er'of the rotating roll type and adapted to be removably associated 85 therewith and operated thereby, of a supporting tray for receiving and supporting a razor blade sharpener, such tray comprising a bottom wall extending at opposite sides upwardl and inwardly to form side members 40 to resiliently engage the sides of the sharpener, an end plate disposed adjacent corresponding ends of the side members, a shaft rotatably mounted in said end late adapted upon being rotated to o erate t e sharpener, and means to operative y connect said shaft and the armature shaft of the motor.

In testimony whereof 'I aflix m signature.

JOSEPH R. IBSON. 

